Dyeing apparatus



April 6,'1937. nE, J ABBOTT l 2,076,170

DYE ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1936 2 SheetsShet 1 OGOOOOOA@ Myx April 6, 1937. E. J. ABBOTT l 2,076,170

DYEING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l?.v

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES DYEIN G APPARATUS Edward J. Abbott, Abbott Machin e Company,

Wilton, N. H., assigner to.

Wilton, N. H., a

corporation o! New Hampshire Application February z5, 1936, serial' No. 65,708

12 Claims.

'This invention relates to dyeing apparatus and in its preferred form illustrated herewith embodies certain features which are disclosed also in my copending application Serial No. 463,649,

5 led June 25, 1930, now Patent Number 2,031,588. Among the several objects of the invention are to facilitate extraction of fluid from dyed, bleached or similarly fluid-treated material which is wound on perforated spools. My invention 10 may for example be used in the dyeing of wound yarn or top on perforated spools which are approximately 40 inches long and hold say 28 pounds net of the yarn or top. Such a spool 1 when soaking wet as the result of dyeing, will o Weigh 90 to 100 pounds, so that accordingly it is desirable to -extract alar`ge part of the liquid from the wound material before moving the spool.

Also in many cases economies can be effected by saving such of the dye liquor, rinsing or bleaching uid as can be economically extracted from the wet spool, because of the fact that these fluids in many processes are not exhausted at the completion of one treatment of the number of spools held in a kettle at one time, and can be used 20 repeatedly. It is therefore more particularly an object of the inventionto provide improved and simplified structure for extracting iluid from huid-treated spools, in place in the kettle, at

slight cost, and without substantially complicating but on the contrary making use of the parts of thev dye kettle useful in the dyeing or other fluid treatment. Accordingly in the preferred embodiment of the invention now to be described, the dyeing apparatus in large, measure acts to separate the liquid from the exhausted air in the extracting operation.

Other objects of invention and features of advantage and novelty will be apparent from this 40 specification and its drawings, wherein' the invention is explained by way of example.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dye kettle according to this invention, parts of the apparatus being shown in elevation and parts being broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectf'n taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail to a larger scale than Fig. 2

showing the manner in which one of the slides is fitted to the vertical column;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the kettle of Fig. 1, fromV the .opposite side, showing also the -uid 5 supply'conduits and storage tank;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a portion o1' a. battery of dye kettles showing particularly their connection to avacuum extractor; certain other 5 connections of the kettles being omitted.

While my invention may be of more general utility, I regard it as particularly desirable in its illustrated embodiment in apparatus for spool dyeing yarn or the like, utilizing the features 10 claimed in my copending application Serial No. 463,649, now Patent No. 2,031,588. As disclosed in that application, the numeral I designates a dye vat or kettle having a. bottom 2 and a false bottom 3 spaced from the bottom 2 to provide a 15 plenum chamber l between them. The false bottom 3 has a plurality of openings, each preferably provided with a tubular bushing sleeve I I, the lower ends of the sleeves resting upon the bottom 2,*while the upper end of each sleeve or bushing is provided with an annular seat-flange 1 adapted to support the lower end of a spool 6. The lower part of each bushing is provided with one or more elongate slots I2 permitting the flow of fluid from the plenum chamber upwardly and '25 into the hollow barrel of the spool resting upon the seat-flange 1 and thence outwardly through suitable perforations Il lin the spool barrel, so that liquid supplied under pressure to the plenum chamber iiows out through the yarn or roving 'wound upon the spool barrels.

A vertical rod 5, anchored at its lower end to the bottom 2, projects upwardly and axially through each bushing Ii and is provided with suitable means for clamping a spool 6 against the 35 corresponding seat 1. Such clamping means preferably comprises a retaining cap 8 or the like, adapted to bear against the top of the spool 6 and to close the upper end of the tubular spool barrel being heid tightly against the upper end 40 of the spool by a nut 5* engaging the screw v threaded lupper end of the rod 5.

'I'he false bottom 3 is provided with a large opening 3a preferably centrally located, and a vertically disposed hollow column 20 is arranged 45 to extend upwardly concentrically with this opening 3* from the false bottom 3 to a point above the top -of the kettle. Preferably this column `consists of a plurality of aligned sections, the lower section which is within the kettle preferably being'perfrated, as indicated at 22, to serve as a strainer. The fluid within the dye kettle proper freely enters the column through these perforations and passes downwardly through the opening 3* into the plenum. chamber l. At the 55 lower end ofthe column 20, I arrange a spiderlike frame 23,- which supports a suitable bearing 24 in which a vertical drive shaft 25 is mounted. This shaft preferably extends downwardly below the bearing and carries a suitable pump impeller 2E at or near itsvlower end, such impellervpreferably beingarranged directly within the opening 3a in the falsebottom, the opening, if desired, being furnished with -a lining sleeve or bushing 21. The pump impeller 26* is preferably of the axial flow type, for example, a screw propeller, and the shaft 25 may be connected to any suitable (preferably reversible) driving means, for example, an electric motor 26 mounted upon the upper end of the column 20.

= A part 40 (conveniently a ,metal casting) is arranged directly belowthe column between the false bottom 3 and the true bottom 2 of 'the kettle, and acts to brace the central part of the false bottom and vto support the weight of the column and parts carried thereby. This casting 40 preierablyahas a plurality of downwardly and outwardly curved ducts or passages 40'L having walls which tend to overcome any tendency of .4 the liquid to swirl or take up a marked rotary vmotion within the plenum chamber. These passages compel the liquid to enter the plenum chamber in a plurality of independent and substantial- `ly horizontal streams, such passages communicating at their upper ends with the opening 3El and at their lower endswith the plenum space 4.

A hollow frusto-conical portion4l of the part 40 is arranged directly below the center of the pump impeller 26e and defines the lower walls of the passages 40S. A supply pipe 50 is arranged to deliver steam or other hot fluid into the chamber in part 4| and from this chamber ducts 42 lead outwardly to the passages 40, so as to deliver the hot steam into the iluid owing through n said passages 40a, thereby heating the fluid' without substantial tendency to produce hammer, and at the same timev utilizing `the kinetic energy of the steam for increasing the velocity of the ilowing uid. The plenum chamber is provided with a drain passage 56 controlled by a valve 5|, which -is operated through gears 52 and 53 and shaft 54 from a handwheel 55. The main body of the kettle is provided near its top with an overilow passage 5l connected to a vertical pipe 58 which extends down to below the kettle bottom. f

m The above apparatus is adapted for extracting of the dye or other liquid from the wound material asfollows. lReferring to Fig. 4, each kettle I is provided with an elevated storage tank |02, a motor-driven pump |03 and pipe connections |04 from the plenum chamber oi the kettle and |05 to the storage tank, permitting the liquid contents of the kettle to be withdrawn through the pipe |04, pump |03 and pipe |05 to the stor- 60 age tank |02 for future use. An inlet pipe |06 emptying into the kettle has valve controlled connections |01, |08 and |08 respectively leading from the storage tank |02, and from cold and hot water supplies.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the connecting section 2| at the upper end of the vertical column 20 of each kettle is in open communication with the vertical column and is joined by a pipe ||0 and valve to a large diameter pipe |12 ex- 70 tending along the battery of dye kettles, and

terminating at a liquid separator H3 and rotary vacuum extractor H4. Thus by means oi the valve of any one of the kettles, that kettle can have its connecting section 2l and'vertical 75 column 20 put into communication with the vacuum extractor ||4 and subjected to a suction of for example 4 inches of mercury.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the fluid openings 22 in vertical column 20, which normally serve to admit dye liquid into the column, are provided with valve means adapted to shut off the interior of the vertical'column from the body of the dye kettle except by way of the plenum chamber 4 and interior of the spool barrels 6. As indicated, the column 20 is grooved to receive vertical strips I5 having openings I I6 adapted to coincide with the openings 22 in the column, these stripsbeing adapted to slide vertically so that their openings H6 are out of registry with the openings 22 which are then effectively closed against the entry of air or liquid. Upper and lower rings H9, |20 are arranged to confine the strips H5 to' their slots, and a sliding ring |22 at the top of the strips j|`|5 and connected thereto is adapted for use in lifting and lowering the strips simultaneously.

When the `valve I|| is opened to connect a kettle with the vacuum extractor and the-strips ||5 are positioned to seal the openings 22 in the column, the plenum chamber 4 and interiors of the spool barrels of'V the kettle' are subjected to vacuum which extracts the liquid from the wound material on the spools, and carries it to the plenum chamber 4 of the kettle where the air slows down and the moisture impinges on the bottom 2 of the kettle and separates from the air. The plenum chamber in this case is thus caused to serve as a liquid separator, the liquid being drawn of! from the plenum chamber through pipe |04 and by the pump |03 to the storage tank |02, and the air continuing up through the passages 40e, 3a, past the impeller 26H and up through the vertical column 20. The impeller 26* need not be rotated during this extracting operation. The current of air passing the blades of this impeller is given a whirling motion which further drives entrained moisture out of the air. During the passage of the air current up through the central column, there is additional separation of the moisture, the moisture dropping down the column, and together with the other separated moisture being removed trom the plenum chamber to the storageA tank.

In order to restore the kettle to operating condition for dyeing, bleaching, or the like fluid treatment of the spool wound material, it is only necessary to shut oil the vacuum valve III, shut oil thepump |03move the ring |22 to position the openings H0 in registry with the openings 22,

and run into the4 kettleV the desired charge of treating iluid, through the pipe |06."

The invention is therefore especially adapted for repeated treatments of ther same wound material by different treating agents, for example,

a dyeing operation, a rinsing, and 'a second dyeing operation, 4with extraction of each liquid. This desirable result is attained, as will be seen from the above description, without complicating the dyeing apparatus, and particularly without sacrificing the advantage of the open-top kettle which is most convenient for the placing` and removal of the. spools of material.

It should be yunderstood that the present disclosure is for the purpose oi' illustration only and that this invention includes all modiilcations and equivalents which fall within the scope of the apvpended claims. ,f

Iclaim: l l. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom deilning a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting cal column, and means for applying suction to` the vertical column to extract wound material.

2. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the plenum chamber, a vertical column extending up through the kettle from the plenum chamber and having fluid openings aording communication between the body of the kettle and said column at various levels in the kettle, a iuid impeller associated with the lower part of the column, means 4for closing the' uiol openings in the vermoisture from the tical column, means for removing liquid from the plenum rhambenand means for applying suction to the vertical column to extract moisture from the wound material. Y

3. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the plenum chamber, a vertical column extending up through the kettle from the plenum chamber and having uid openings aording communication between the body of the kettle and said column at various levels in the kettle, a fluid impeller associated with the lower part of the column, valves associated with the openings in the vertical column, said valves being adapted to close the vertical column o from the kettle except by way of the plenum chamber and spool barrels. and means for applying suction to the vertical column to extract moisture from the wound material.

4. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom defining a plenum chamber inthe lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication plenum chamber, a vertical column extending up through the kettle from the plenum chamber and having uid openings affording communication between the body of the kettle and said column at various levels in the kettle, a uid impeller associated with the lower part of the column, slide valves adapted to close the fluid openings in the vertical column. and means for applying suction to the vertical column to extract moisture from the wound material.

5. Dyeing. apparatus false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the plenum chamber, a vertical column extending up through the kettle from the plenumchamber and having fluid openings affording communication between the body of the kettle and said column at various levels in the kettle, a uid impeller as- Socrates with the lower part of the column, strips associated with the column and having openings adapted to coincide with the said fluid openings, said strips being slidable to block off said openings, and means for applying suction to the vertiwith the comprising a kettle, a

cal column to extract moisture from the wound material.

6. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the plenum chamber, a rotary fluid impeller andcooperating passage adapted to induce circulation 'of fluid through the spool barrels and material Wound thereon, and vacuum extracting means having communication with the interior of the spools through said plenum chamber and arranged to draw air from the. wound material past said fluid impeller, whereby the impingement of the air on the impeller acts to separate liquid from said air.'

7. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, means for vertically mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle, liquid-circulating means including a vertical column within and extending substantially throughout the height of the kettle, fluid connections between the bottom oi the column and the interiors of the said spools, and extracting means connected to thev upper part of the column, whereby during extraction of uid from the wound material, the vertical column acts as a liquid separator.

8. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom deiining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools oi wound material in the kettle with their barrels in counication with themeans for inducing a circulation of uuid through.l the wound material and plenum chamber',

plenum chamber, means for closing oi the plenum chamber from the body of the kettle except byy 'false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the plenum chamber, means for inducing a circulation of fluid through the wound material and plenum chamber, means for closing off the plenum chamber from the body of the kettle way of the spool barrels, a fluid storage tank, means for withdrawing fluid from the plenum chamber to the storage tank, and a vacuum extracting apparatus arranged to be put into com munication with the plenum chamber.

10. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a false bottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower part of the' kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with'the plenum chamber, means for inducing a circula- Y 11. Dyeing apparatus comprising a kettle, a'

plenum chamber in the false bottom defining a lower part of the kettle, means for mounting perforated spools of wound material in the kettle with their barrels in communication with the to be put irl-communication.

plenum chamber, means for inducing a circulabottom defining a plenum chamber in the lower tion of iiuid through the wound material and part of the kettle and means for mounting perplenum chamber, means for closing oi! the plenum` torated spools ot wound material in the kettle in chamber from the body of the kettle except by communication with the plenum chamber, a

5 way of the spool barrels, a iiuid storage tank. vacuum pump and connections whereby the 5 means for withdrawing fluid from the plenum vacuum pump can be put into communication chamber to the storage tank. a vacuum exwith the plenum chamber of any one of the tracting apparatus arranged to be put into comseveral kettles, storage tanks associated respecmunication with the plenum chamber, and means tively with the individual kettles, and means for 10 for returning the uid from the storage tank to removing the liquid from the plenum chamber l0 the kettle. oi' each kettle to the associated storage tank.

12. Dyeing apparatus comprising a plurality' of dye kettles each of which includes a false EDWARD J. ABBOTT. 

